Lollipop lady saves five children in car crash

A lollipop lady in South Wales saved five children’s lives as she shielded
them from an out-of-control car on Thursday.

Karin Williams, the lollipop lady who was hit by a car outside Rhws Primary school Photo: Hotspot Media

By Radhika Sanghani and agencies

9:04AM BST 21 Jun 2013

Karin Williams, 50, pushed the schoolchildren to safety as a car drove towards them in the village of Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, yesterday morning.

Five children are recovering from their injuries after driver Robert Bell, 61, lost control of his car and drove into the school crossing.

The scene outside of Rhws Primary School in Rhoose, South Wales (Wales News)

Mrs Williams was hit by the car as she saved the children and was left trapped beneath the overturned vehicle.

Her husband Lyndon, a paramedic, told the Daily Mirror: “She suffered two broken kneecaps, a broken elbow, a broken shoulder and she has a badly swollen face, but she is going to be OK and she is in good spirits.

"We are so proud of her and what she did, we love her so much. She cannot remember too much about the crash. All she keeps asking about is the children."

Nine people were treated for injuries, including the Mr Bell who is helping police with inquiries and is understood to have been driving his grandchild to the Fontgary Road school at the time.

A nine-year-old girl is in intensive care at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales, while an adult and child were last night released from the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend after being treated for minor injuries, a spokesman for the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board said.

Villagers Stephen Martin, 31, praised Mrs Williams’ bravery and told the newspaper: "Karin Williams is an absolute hero. She sensed what was about to happen and launched herself at the kids, pushing them out of the way."

Anxious parents ran for cover with their children after hearing the accident at 8.55am, a loud bang which many took to be a gunshot.

Local councillor Jeffrey James described what he claimed was the cause of the accident, saying: "The driver has apparently said he had a coughing fit, and hit the accelerator instead of the brake and lurched, hitting the crossing attendant and the children waiting to cross or starting to cross.

"He must have swerved and then tipped over the car. It was on its roof."

Matthew Roynan and his wife Lisa found their daughter Lola, eight, was among those injured, the Sun said.

Mr Roynan, 40, told the newspaper: "Lisa said, 'It looks like there's been an accident, it looks like someone's been run over'.

"Then we saw Lola lying on the floor. There was blood everywhere. We ran towards her. She had a horrendous injury to her hand. There were people running everywhere screaming and running about. It was pandemonium.

"I was crying. It wasn't just my daughter, it was horrendous. All the kids were in bad shape."

Glenys Watson, 64, who runs the Coffee Time café yards from the scene, comforted mothers and children who came into her shop in shock within minutes of the accident.

In the initial confusion some mothers thought a gun had been fired, and a shout went out for people to run, she said.

She added: "One mother told me that people heard a big bang and thought a gun had been fired. They all ran. Nobody knew what was happening."

Superintendent Joe Ruddy of South Wales Police refused to confirm reports of what could have caused the accident, adding: "It is too early to say at this stage of the investigation."

He said it was not being treated as a deliberate act, but added that the vehicle had been seized and was undergoing forensic examination. He appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Mr Ruddy added: "Thankfully there were no fatalities, and some of those injured have been discharged from hospital having received treatment.

"Our thoughts remain with those who remain in hospital and their families during this difficult time."